AAA Music Approved: Sam Calver

Who are you and where are you from?

I’m Sam Calver, a singer/songwriter from Hastings UK. I’ve been playing guitar since I was 7 years old and always had a love for music. I played in various bands growing up and started gigging when I was 16, I’ve been gigging ever since! I started writing my own stuff when I was about 14 but always struggled to find my own sound as I had so many different influences. Something clicked about 5 years ago and things progressed from there, I signed to Island Records and started releasing my own music last year!

What inspired you to get into music?

My dad got me playing guitar when I was a kid and listening to music from Thin Lizzy to Bon Jovi and The Rolling Stones, as I got older I got into Hip Hop and then the Nu Metal era of Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park and Rage Against The Machine. I think these early days heavily shaped the music I make today, which is like a mix of guitars with big anthemic choruses and hooky melodies with electronic elements and sometimes quite hiphop/trap based drums.

What have you done?

I released my first EP last year (The Midnight EP) which has had over a millions streams now and is building a good following. My most recent single ‘Don’t Tell Me You Love Me’ is the song I’m most proud of and is my favourite track to date.

What are you like live?

I love playing live, it’s how I started out so it’s where I get all my kicks. I finished off last year with a sold out headline show in my hometown to 1500 people and was buzzing about that so I’m excited to get out and play some more shows!

What makes you different?

I guess ‘cos its real? Theres no bullshit what you see is what you get, I write my own material and have a hand in every aspect of my music from design to sound and everything in between. I try to personalise everything in my own way so I hope that comes across.

Physical vs Downloading vs Streaming…How do you listen to music?

These days I stream everything, but not through choice it’s just the easiest way to listen. I think it’s a shame because some of my best memories were saving my money up as a kid to buy tapes and cd’s and I think it made you appreciate the music more. You would listen to an album over and over and read all the content in the booklet, from who was involved in the making of the album to the thank you’s from the artist at the back. Now you can buy a single for 50p, crazy really.

What have you been listening to?

Actually I just bought a CD! The first one i have bought in a long time and it was the new Thirty Seconds To Mars album, it didn’t disappoint either, great album! Other than that I’ve been listening to a lot of Miguel and also the new Years & Years track, ‘Sanctify’ – that’s a vibe!

What are your aspirations for the future?

Just to continue doing shows and to try my best to reach more and more people! New music coming soon too!